Fabricated metal grand stand



Oct. 11, 1932. R. E. JONES 1,882,148

FABRICATED METAL GRAND STAND Q I Filed Sept. '19, 1951. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 s M T? fa 3 w y 9 8;! 1a: 1 0 1 v1 MIA 11K Z 7 9 g5 1 r I L. 15 7 1' INVENTOR A/ REL/ ones ATTORNEYS Oct. '11, 1932. R. E. JONES FABRICATED METAL GRAND STAND F iled Sept. 19, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTGRNEYS J2. E. Janea Patented Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED STATES RUSSELL E. JONES, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR TO THE INGALLS IRON WORKS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DWARE FABRICATED METAL GRAND STAND Application filed September 19, 1881.

My invention relates to the production of grand stands of fabricated metal and particularly to grand stands comprislng any standard form of structural supporting frame work covered with an improved water-proof steel plate decking in which the plates, shaped to form the treads and risers, are arranged in a novel manner and welded to each other, to the frame work, and to the seat supports, so that no leakage through the decking can occur and a light, cheaply erected, attractive structure results. 1

It is a matter of prime importance in grand stand structures that the decking shall be water-proof as in all modern grand stands the space beneath is utilized, and where the decking can be economically produced in manner and form to be permanently water tight, a marked advantage in the structure is obtained.

A distinctive feature of my invention lies in the manner in which the deck plates are mounted on the supporting frame work. My invention contemplates that the plates shall be formed to provide transverse treads and risers and shall be laid with their long axes parallel to the supporting beams. Preferabl the beams support plates along their center in a cantilever manner so as to bring the welded side joints of the plate out of line with the supports. By this arrangement access to the plates for the welding is improved and stresses over the supporting beam are eliminated, thus decreasing the stresses in the plate joints between the supports.

While I consider it preferable that the long axis of-the plate shall be parallel with the beams, many of the advantages of my invention are obtainable where the long axis of the plate is normal to the beam. Also, I obtain greater economy in construction Where Serial No. 583,878.

I thus avoid any holes through the decking for the attachment of the seat supports.

A further distinctive feature of my inven tion lies in the manner in which the formed deck plates are attached to their inclined beam supports. 1 have conceived that an exceptionally strong and yet inexpensive attachment can be obtained by interposing short steel wedges between the beam and tread portions of the plates which have full surface contact with both beam and tread and are welded to each. By this means I obtain an exceptionally strong joint between the decking and beams and at the same time I obtain the advantage of supporting the decking by means of substantial horizontal supports with the joint between the treads and their supporting wedges free from sheer stresses.

My invention further comprises the novel details of construction and arrangement of parts which in their preferred embodiment only are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which 2-- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a seating structure for a stadium;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of decking with the seats removed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line Hl[ll[l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view corresponding to Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of Fig. 4:.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the embodiment of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings, 1 show the supporting frame work comprising any standard structural steel members such as the upright columns 5 and the inclined beams 6. These columns and beams are adequately cross braced in accordance with any standard practice.

Assuming that the beams 6 are spaced on 20' centers, which is standard construction, but which of course may be varied if desired,

the

- of the several rows are 'oined along their side edges by a V-type ush weld seam 8, as will be seen more c early in Fig. 5.

Each of the plates 7 isformed by being transversely bent to produce a series of connected treads 9 and risers 10, which are of standard formation and of suitable height and width for grand stand use. The upper end 11 of each plate, forming a portion of a tread, is joggled at 12 to receive the lower end 13 o the adjoining lower plate. The tread portions 11 and 13 form together a tread 9 and the lap joint between these members is flush welded at 14 to give a secure watertight joint.

In Figs. 4 and 6, I illustrate in detail the manner of attaching the deck plates to the beams 6. To this end I employ steel wedges 15 shaped so that with the treads 9 resting on the beams as shown in Fig. 4the top and bottom sides of the wedges will seat flush against the under face of the treads and the top of their su porting beam 6. These wed es are welded th to the treads and to the cams.

They are preferably about 2" in len h and i of suitable width so that they afior ample horizontal support for the treads, and due .to the length and strength of the welded joints connecting these wedges to the beams, the sheer stresses imposed by the load on beams 6 are amply provided for. By this means I avoid any riveting or bolting of the deck plates to the supporting frame work,

' which is objectionable not only because leakage will inevitably occur in bolt or rivet holes i u sed, but because it is diflicult to obtain a I strong connection here which will withstand the expansion and contraction strains as well as the vibration stresses set up in the loaded structure.

The seat boards 16 are connected by bolts 7 17 at suitable intervals to the flanged ends 18 ofsteel supporting plates 19.. These plates 7 are disposed normal to the boards 16 and treads 9 on which their lower edges seat with a. butt joint and are welded thereto on each side as is indicated more clearly in Fig. 5.

Having thus assembled the structural 'frame work and having pre-formed the 4 plates, and if desired shop welded the wedges termediate the inclined manently water tilght. The structure is unusually light an yet possesses abnormal strength in all joints as compared with present riveted or bolted metal grand stand structures. j

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be'obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modificafrom the spirit tions' without departin thereof, and I desire, t erefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. In a fabricated metal seating structure,

a supporting frame work comprising inclined spaced beams, and an imperforate metal decking formed of steel plates shaped to provide tread and riser portlons with the riser portions supported on the beams, which plates are welded to each other and to the beams.

2. A fabricated metal seating structure, comprising a supporting frame work having parallel inclined beams and a decking formed of a plurality of plates each bent to provide a plurality of complete tread and riser portions with the riser portions supported on the beams, means to weld the deck plates together intermediate the beams to form an imperforate decking, and means to weld the riser portions to the beams.

3. A fabricated metal seating structure, comprising a supporting frame work having parallel inclined beams and a decking formed of plates each bent to provide a plurality of complete treads and risers and disposed with the risers resting on the beams, means to weld the deck plates together ineams to form an imperforate decking, means to weld the risers to the beams, and seat supports welded to the decking treads.

4. In a fabricated metal seating structure, a supporting frame work comprising inclined beams, plates preformed to provide treads and risers and disposed with the risers on the inclined beams and and the side edges ofrthe plates intermediate the beams, said plates being welded together along their side edges and at their ends to form a continuous imperforate metal decking, and supports for inounting the risers on the beams.

5. In a fabricated structure of the character described, a frame-work comprising inclined beams, decking plates bent transversely to form a plurality of treads and risers, welded joints connecting said plates to form an imperforate decking, and wedge supports forthe decking welded thereto and to the beams.

6. In a fabricated seating structure, a supporting frame work comprising inclined spaced beams, plates bent transversely to form a plurality of treads and risers, said plates being welded together in rows parallel with the beams, the parallel rows of said plates being welded together to form an imperforate decking, and the rows of plates decking formed of plates bent and assembled all! formed plates shaped to form treads and risers, and wedge-like supports for the decking interposed between the inclined beams and the treads and welded both to beam and tread to form supporting connections for the decking.

9. A fabricated metal grand stand, comprising inclined metallic supporting'members, ,an imperforate decking mounted on said members and composed of plates preformedto provide treads and risers and welded together to form the completed decking, wedge-like supporting elements welded under the treads in position to engage said inclined members, and means to connect said wedges to said members to assemble the decking thereon.

10. A fabricated metal grand stand, com prising inclined metallic supporting members, imperforate decking mounted on said members and composed of plates preformed to provide treads and risers and welded together to form the completed decking, wedgelike supporting elements welded under the treads in position to engage said inclined.

members,

said members to assemble the decking thereon, and seats comprising metallic supports welded to said deck treads.

11. A fabricated steel grand stand structure, comprising a structural supporting frame work having inclined beams, plates welded in rows parallel with the beams and disposed with rows of plates mounted centrally over said beams, V-shaped flush weld joints connecting the side edges of the rows of plates together to form an imperfora-te decking, steel wedges welded under the decking treads and positioned to engage said, beams, welded joints connecting said wedges to the beams, and wooden seats comprising metallic supports resting with a butt joint on the decking treads and welded thereto on each side of the joint;

12. A fabricated steel grand stand, comprising a structural supporting frame work, an imperforate decking comprising preprovide treads and means to connect said wedges to &

risers, and wedge-like supports interposed between the frame work and treads and welded to both to both support and connect the decking to the frame work.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

RUSSELL a. JONES. 

